Visitors and staycationers: How to spend 24 hours in Wrightsville Beach

Saturday

Jul 29, 2017 at 10:00 AMAug 1, 2017 at 1:19 PM

We included a little something for the foodies, history buffs, shoppers and water sports fanatics.

By Ashley Morris StarNews Staff

There is no one way to do Wrightsville Beach and visitors certainly need at least three days and three nights to truly experience the best it has to offer.

An itinerary for Wrightsville Beach may be different for foodies versus those clamoring to spend their day trying out different water sports. But we put together a full day of Wrightsville Beach for tourists and staycationers alike. Here are 12 things to do in 24 hours on Wrightsville Beach. We break down where to eat, where to explore and where to play in a short amount of time. We've included a little something for the foodies, history buffs, shoppers and water sports fanatics.

But get ready, in order the get the best of Wrightsville Beach in one day it is going to be a busy one.

6:15 a.m. Watch the sunrise on the south end. Park at Jack Parker Beach Access parking lot (917 S. Lumina Ave.) and see if you can spot Masonboro Island in the distance.

8 a.m. Grab a toasted bagel at Beach Bagels at 7220 Wrightsville Ave. Go with a classic bagel toasted with cream cheese and butter or try out one of the dozens of bagel sandwich options listed on the chalkboard such as The Jose with egg, bacon, sausage, provolone cheese, cream cheese, jalapenos and onions.

9 a.m. Head back to the beach and grab a coffee or smoothie at SUNdays Surf Cafe at 708 Lumina Ave. This boutique coffee shop on the top floor of South End Surf Shop is where the surfers and locals go to grab mocha and lattes before and after they work the waters. Their acai bowls are hearty and fresh for a perfect power breakfast.

11 a.m. After some needed morning beach time, try out a family sailing lesson with Captain Dustin Frye, or just cruise around with him. Sailing the Intracoastal at Wrightsville is an age-old past time with some of the best views. And can we talk about all the pretty Instragrams that are going to happen? Check out Wrightsville Performance Sailing at www.wpsail.com or call 910-622-2503.

1:30 p.m. Grab a fast lunch at Trolly Stop (94 S. Lumina Ave.) We recommend ordering a hot dog, "all the way." Just a heads up, you will need cash at Trolly Stop and luckily they have an ATM right outside. Or check out Dockside Restaurant for food with a view (1308 Airlie Road.)

2:30 p.m. Should there be an afternoon rain shower to pull you off the beach, go on the hunt for some souvenirs. Check out Hallelu and The Workshop at 84 Waynick Blvd. For the sportsmen in the group, head to Redix (120 Causeway Drive) for preppy men's clothing, Southern brand names and any beach gear.

4 p.m. Take a stroll under the old oak trees along the John Nesbitt Loop (a 2.45-mile circle in the heart of Wrightsville Beach) before making a quick stop at the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History (303 W Salisbury St.) The museum is closed Mondays and is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, noon-5 p.m. Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, visit www.wbmuseumofhistory.com

7 p.m. If you are looking for a white tablecloth dining experience check out Blockade Runner (275 Waynick Blvd.) or Jerry's Wine, Food and Spirits (7220 Wrightsville Ave.) Don't be fooled by the humble shopping center location of Jerry's next to a pizza delivery place -- he has created dishes for Vice President Al Gore and a list of other celebs throughout his catering tenure. For a culinary adventure with flip flops still on and beach hair, try out Ceviche's across the parking lot (7210 Wrightsville Ave.) We recommend ... well just about everything on the menu.

8:30 p.m. For low-key, after-dinner drinks, head to Lighthouse Beer & Wine (220 Causeway Drive). Inside the bottle shop you can find everything from value to vintage vines and coolers of local craft beers. Grab snacks from their Veggie Wagon fridge and head to the patio under the stars and cafe lights.

10 p.m. Take an Uber or taxi over to The Palm Room (11 E. Salisbury St.), where the party has gone on for decades. End the night at bars like Jerry Allen's Sports Bar or Lagerheads Tavern (30th block of North Lumina Avenue), known to locals as simply, "the beach bars."

Midnight: Go to bed knowing a hearty brunch at Causeway Cafe (114 Causeway Drive) awaits you in the morning.

Reporter Ashley Morris can be reached at 910-343-2096 or Ashley.Morris@starnewsonline.com

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